Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-05-27
Some Idea What a Senator Has to Do
During the Recess Of Congress.
Daily Routine Life.
A Servant to the Public During the Ses
sion, Slave to Constituents
During the Recess,
Letters to Read, and Letters to Dictate
Departments to be Visited-How
it is all Accomplished.
Special to the Gazette.

who remain in Washington during the
vacation of Congress have the Worst
roast of work known to public men
Get into my carriage, and we will take s
turn through the departments. Most
people believe that Congressmen-and |
mean by the word men in both Houses
have a picnic here when there
is no session. Such an ldea
is fallacious-tar from the truth
would rather do theIwork of two months
during the session than one month during
recess. In the former instance it is the
work of statesman, in the latter that OF
slave. That you may know just what il
is and how it is done, want you to 60
with me this morning"
Such were the words of an old and
widely known United States Senator,
! spoken as his carriage stood in front OF
my office in Newspaper Row this morn
ing. As the vehicle moved away on our
journey, the Senator SAID
eve will go to the Executive Mansion
| first. My CoaChman knows the route |
take every day, and l let him use his
| judgment as to where we stop first
and last. He knows must 90 to all the
heads of departments before | am done.
You will follow me into all tie rooms [
visit, for shall say nothing to be kept
/ from your ears, and do nothing not in
tended to be seen by you. Only consider
| it all with simple. seCreCv.'
| In his hands the Senator carried a
great bundle of documents-letters with
out envelopes, petitions, memorials, afIi-
| davits, and all the manuscripts to a well
| equipped oHiCe-getter and statesman
could have while on q mission of public
business of all descriptions. Five minutes
later we stood before President Cleveland.
81 Came," said the Senator, "to present
additional Endorsements for nv candidate
| for the British consulate Here are q
number of strong letters which l want
you TO read yourself, and not have them
simply referred to Mr.. BaYard. Have
you concluded to appoint my man to be
postmaster Ct the place l talked of yes
terday? No! hope you can see your
way clear to do so at least sometime this
week. And | have to Call your attention
to what l said in reference to pardOning
the man l spoke of few days ago am
pleased to see you have not forgotten
what l said, but am sorry you have not
concluded TO act. Pardon me for again
reminding you OF my youngi man who
wants to 90 to West Point frOm'at large
The carriage wheels bummed till they
stood in front of the War Department,
only block away. Here the Senator
rushed up the great marble stairway and
pushed me into the private room of the
Secretary of War as though time was very
precious. He merely said it was apleasant
morning, laid down his bundle of docu-
ments, and began asserting from them he
intended tC lay before Mr.. IEudicott As
he handed them over he asked a personal
reading, remarking that they were en-
dorsements for young man
who wanted to receive appoint
ment to military cadetship; letters COM
planning that liquor was being sold on
military reservation in violation of law,
and calling attention to certain acts of
minor army officers, and then the Senator
was out into the corridor and on his way
to the room of the Secretary ct the Navy,
which is on the same floor. Without an
nouncing himself, the Senator walked
right into Mr., Whitney's room. He did
not remove his hat, and instantly an
nounCed mis- mission.
Nothing, l see, has been done to-
wards COuntermanding the order for q
court martial of the seaman from my
state, and about which l have been mere
so often"
There were rapid strokes of good
natured repsrtee, sharp dialogue, and
away the Senator went, bound for the
Department of State, at the south end of
the same building, on the same floor, but
cut off by partition of iron bars
"Let me see, Mr.. Secretary" said the
SouorOr Mr. pauar6 hove
so much for you this morning that l
scarcely know how to begin it. Here are
applicants for seven consulates, including
duplicate Endorsements for British po-
sition, the original papers of which 1
have Just left at the White House; aft
davits disproving the charges made
against one of my consuls; three appH-
cations for pas ports; an appeal in the
case of an American citizen in prison in
South Sea island; three claims against
foreigners in foreign lands, and requests
for consular reports affecting the wool
industry in the Argentine Republic and
South Australia"
Again the carriage moved away, and
then stopped at the Department of JUS
tice. Attorney General Garland smiled
as the Senator entered, and exclaimed:
"Your district attorney will be APP
pointed this week. Now, there. You are
pleased?"
$50 far so good" replied the Senator.
| ''Now say the pardon OF that miserable
miscreant with half a dozen little chill
dren will issue and l will be happy. The
crime was of no consequence, and it was
his first. l will call again"
Secretary Fairchild was at his desk in
his private room, Treasury Department.
The Senator's bundle of documents was
sppreciably diminished, but he got
a good assortment of miscellaneous
matters from it. He presented further
endorsements Ofapplicants for positions in
/ the customs and internal revenue serv-
/ ices; g petition from importers for an
amended ruling on certain imports, and g
petition from exporters for an exactly
opposite ruling on the same matter; 8
memorial for ClemenCy from man who
had been arrested for counterfeiting in
the manufacture of plate advertisements !;
a claim for moieties by man who had
pointed out vessel engaged in SNUG
| Cling, and remonstranCe against the ap-
| pointment of man to be superintendent
of a government building under the
course of construction. Then the Sen
ator went into the Third Auditors Office
and laid before him war claims of various
descriptions-for horses, for forage,
bounty, etc., and fastened away to the
second comptroller TO see why the &C
count of an army officer had not been adj
justed.
"Now, have but two rooms to visit in
this department" sail the Senator, "and
| they are those of the Superintendent of